DENVER – Colorado will expand access to the vaccine for people aged 60-64 years from March 5, Governor Jared Polis announced at a news conference on Friday.
Also included in the expanded access – known as phase 1B.3 – will be workers in the agricultural processing factory, grocery workers and coloradans aged 16 to 59 with two or more comorbidities.
Comorbidities include cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Scott Bookman, COVID-19 incident commander for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, estimated that 958,000 people will be part of phase 1B.3, including 200,000 grocery workers and 400,000 people aged 16-59 with comorbidities.
The state also hopes to make the vaccine available to people aged 50 and over by the end of March, a phase known as 1B.4. Key workers such as postal workers, higher education teachers, religious leaders and direct caregivers for the homeless will be among those eligible in Phase 1B.4.
Polis announced on Friday a target date of March 21 for access to the vaccine over the age of 50, although this may change depending on the supply.
Polis also reiterated: All Coloradians aged 65 and over are eligible to receive the vaccine now and can make an appointment to receive a dose.
Polis said that about 67% of coloradans aged 70 and older received a dose of the vaccine; Colorado’s goal was to vaccinate 70% of coloradans aged 70 and over by the end of February. Vaccine events take place over the weekend, including one in Thornton, which still had 1,700 vacancies available until Friday afternoon.
Polis strongly encouraged all eligible coloradans to apply for the vaccine. Coloradans can visit cocovidvaccine.org for information on how to apply for the vaccine.
With access to the vaccine for specific jobs taking place by the end of March, Polis estimated that access to the vaccine for the general public could happen as early as late April or early May, depending on the supply.
Brigadier General Scott Sherman of Colorado, who is coordinating the distribution of the vaccine in the state, said the Colorado supply should receive a big boost once the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine is approved for use. Colorado is expected to receive about 400,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the end of March, Sherman said, if 20 million doses are available across the country.
Sherman said the state expects an announcement from the White House next week about the expected increase in vaccine supplies.
Polis warned Coloradans to remain safe, despite an increase in vaccine distribution. The governor did not say whether to extend the term of the state mask when it expires next week, but asked the coloradans to wear a mask anyway.
“The journey is not over, the race is not over yet,” said Polis. “We need to continue to be patient.”